WHAT a welcome the twins received when they took the stage on Monday evening. The audience rose as one to give them an unprecedented ovation and seldom can a crowd have been so pleased by what followed.

The atmosphere was electric and infectious with almost everyone joining in as Craig and Charlie — backed by an excellent four-piece band which impressed with their keyboard and guitar skills — sang material from their new album “Persevere” and, of course, “Letter From America” and “500 Miles”, the undoubted highlight of the evening, which had everyone, from grannies to grandchildren, jumping and singing.

Phil Cunningham, who cannot pass up the possibility of sitting in, whether it be with
Capercaillie, Fergie McDonald or The Proclaimers, turned up and took his turn at the keyboards.

The twins obviously haven’t forgotten their early days and made frequent references to
Inverness’s Market Bar and how staff couldn’t believe there were only two of them and that they wouldn’t need microphones. They also dedicated a song to the late Iain “Moggy” Moir who used to work there and give them gigs.

For someone who went not expecting much, I soon came to the conclusion they are one of the best live bands I’ve had the privilege of seeing. I was screaming “encore” along with everyone else when the performance ended and, having joined the scrum for a copy of their latest CD, I must proclaim that they sound better live than on record.

An excellent night.

TW

Inverness Courier 12 June 2002

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